Successful Test Completion with Genesis Magma Racing’s GMR-001 Hypercar
A comprehensive test was successfully completed with the Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001 hypercar, a luxury brand of Hyundai Motorsport, which is set to debut in the 2026 FIA WEC, the FIA Endurance World Championship. Official team driver, Brazilian Pipo Derani, participated in the first long test with the GMR-001 at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimão, Portugal, between the 16th and 18th of the month.
The team’s objective was to validate the reliability of all the car’s systems by subjecting each component to extreme demanding conditions. Over the course of 32 hours of continuous running, the team put the prototype to the test, seeking to identify critical points for its evolution.
The drivers completed double and even triple stints, evaluating not only the mechanical resistance but also the wear of the tires in different conditions and the efficiency in energy management according to the championship rules.
According to Derani, “As a driver, you want to do good lap times to be able to stress the components properly with the intention of finding their limits.” Derani had previously tested the car last month at Paul Ricard, France. “It’s a brand-new car, and we need to see if the parts last long enough. If we find any weak points, then we’ll see what we can do to improve. Next year, our big race will be 24 hours, so we have to prepare for that,” emphasized the Brazilian, who will be partnered with German driver André Lotterer on the team.
Recently confirmed to drive the other car for the team in the 2026 FIA WEC season, drivers Mathys Jaubert and Dani Juncadella also participated in the activities and completed their first laps in the GMR-001.
The tests took place in high temperatures, above 30°C, and put to the test the innovative cooling system and the 3.2-liter V8 biturbo engine, as well as the entire powertrain. In the nighttime tests, the highlight was the debut of the specially developed headlights for the GMR-001, which feature the Two-Line identity of Genesis road cars.
Genesis Magma Racing will now proceed to tests focused on extracting performance, software calibration, and component adjustments, combining with new endurance simulations to prepare the car for its official debut in 2026.
Next Steps for Genesis Magma Racing
The team will continue to work on fine-tuning the GMR-001, with the goal of optimizing its performance and reliability for the upcoming season. With the successful completion of this test, Genesis Magma Racing is one step closer to making its debut in the FIA WEC, and the team is eager to take on the challenges of the championship.
